Crane.



H. E. KUHNER, DEGD. R. L KUHNER, BXIJOUTRIK.

CRANE.

APPLICATION IILEI) JULY 15, 1913- Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN E. KUHNER, OF OXFORD, MARYLAND; ROSE L. KUHNEB EXEGUTRIX 0F SAID HERMAN E. KUHNER; DECEASED.

CRANE.

tion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I y l .This invention relates to portable cranes specially adapted for use inworkshops and garages in connection with motor cars; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts hereinafteryfully described and claimed whereby the load can be lifted from two points simultaneously or from a single point.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of a crane constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the crane. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the Winding mechanism, taken on the line ww in Fig. 1, and drawn to a larger scale. Fig. 41 is a plan view of the catch. l U

The crane is. mounted on a wheeled truck and has an arch-shaped main frame adapted to extend over a motor car. The hoisting mechanisi'n is arranged at one side ofthe frame, and two barrels and two lifting cords or cables are provided. These lifting cords are conducted over guide sheaves on the frame so that the car can be lifted at each side simultaneously, orso that its en gine can be lifted out by one of the cords at the middle of the frame.

The main frame 2 of the crane is archshaped in form and consists of angle-shaped metallic bars rranged side by side and suitablybraced together. These bars may each be formed of a single piece, or they may have curved brackets 3 for connecting their horizontal and vertical portions and for bracing them together. The main frame 2 is mounted on a truck or trucks 4: having suitable wheels or casters 5, so that the crane may be moved about the workshop or garage with facility. The hoisting mechanism 6 is secured to the upright portion at one side of the main frame 2. Two hoisting cables,

cords or chains 7 and 8 are provided, and

are Wound upon barrels 9 and 10 resp ectively. These cords are passed over a guide Specification of Letters Iatent. Patented N 10 Application filed July 15, 1913. Serial No. 779,195.

roller 12 journaled at about the middle of one of the curved brackets 8. One cord 7 is then passedovcr a guide sheave 14- journaled adjacent to the roller 12, and the other cord 8 is extended across the top of the frame and is passed over a guide sheave 15 journaled in the other curved bracket 3. The sheavesare arranged so that the cords depend symmetrically from the top of the frame, .and an additional guide sheave 16 is journaled at the middle part of the frame. This sheave 16 supports the horizontal por tion of the cord 8, andenables the free end 1 portion of the cord tobe hung from the mid dle of the frame at will, as indicated in dotted lines, so that it can be used to lift the motor out of the car or for any similar purnose. The other cord 7 can also be supported in asimilar manner so that both cords canbe used at once for lifting at the middle part of the crane. The cordsfare preferably wire ropes or cables.

The two barrels 9 and 10 are arranged upon a single shaft 18 which is journaled in bearings 19 and 21 on a frame 20 which is secured to one side of the main frame, and which also assists in bracing the vertical members of the main frame. The barrel 9 is secured. on the shaft 18 by a key or pin 22. and the barrel 10 is free to revolve and to slide longitudinally on thcoshaft 18. The barrels are provided on their adjacent ends with toothed clutch members 23 adapted to engage with each other, and a spring 21 is provided between the barrels for normally holding the clutch members out of engagement with each other. A worm-wheel 25 is journaled loosely on the shaft 18 between the barrel 9 and the bearing 21. A pin 26 is provided and is arranged to slide in a hole in the W01111Wl1(-36l and to engage with a hole 27 in the barrel 9. This pin is slid in and out by hand. A hand-wheel 28 is secured on the shaft 18 outside the frame 20, for revolving the shaft to adjust the relative lengths of the cords 7 and 8. The hub of the worm-wheel 25 runsin contact with one end of the bearing 21 and with one end of the barrel 9, and the hub of the hand-wheel 28 runs against the other end of the bearing 21, so that the shaft18 and the worm-wheel cannot slide longitudinally. A worm 30 is secured on a shaft 31 journaled in suitable bearings on the frame 20, and a handle 32 or other suitable means for revolving the shaft 31 is provided. The worm 3O gears constantly into the worm-wheel and sustains the load when lifted. A face-cam 34 is formed on or secured to the bearing 19, and a lever 35 is pivoted on the shaft 18, between the bearing 19 and the barrel 10, and has a end portion 42 and a notch 43. The lever is pressed against the curved part 42 until the notch is caused to engage with the lever, by the spring 44. The catch is retracted by hand to release the lever, and when the lever is moved in the reverse direction the spring 24 slides the barrel 10 out of engagement with the barrel 8. When the barrels are disengaged, the barrel 9 is released from the worm-wheel and is revolved by the hand-wheel to adjust the lengths of the free end portions of the two lifting cords to suit the load. When the two cords are attached to the load, the barrels are locked together, and if necessary both can be revolved by the hand-wheel to take up the slack of the cords. The barrel 9 is then connected to the wormwheel by the slidable pin, and the load is raised and lowered by the worm and wormwheel, both barrels being revolved simulta neously, and the load being raised from two points so that it is kept level.

WVhat I claim is:

1. The combination, with a frame provided with bearings, and a non-slidable shaft journaled in the said bearings; of a nonslidable barrel secured on the said shaft, a

wormavheel mounted loosely on the said shaft and arranged in contact with the inner end of one of the said bearings and with one end of the said barrel, a disengageable catch for connecting the worm-wheel to the said barrel, a worm for revolving the worm-wheel, means for revolving the said shaft when the worm-wheel is disconnected from the barrel, a slidable barrel journaled loosely on the said shaft, clutch-members on the adjacent ends of the two barrels, and means for moving the slidable barrel longitudinally to place the clutch-members into and out of engagement with each other.

2. The combination, with a frame provided with bearings, and a non-slidable shaft journaled in the said bearings, of a non slidable barrel secured on the said shaft,

a worm-wheel mounted loosely on the said shaft and arranged in contact with the inner end of one of the said bearings and with one end of the said barrel, a disengageable catch for connecting the worm-wheel tothe said barrel, a worm for revolving the wormwheel, means for revolving the said shaft when the worm-wheel is disconnected from the barrel, a slidable barrel journaled loosely on the said shaft, clutch-memberson the adjacent ends of the two barrels, a spring arranged between the two barrels and normally holding the clutch-members apart, a facecam secured to the other shaft bearing, and a lever provided with a face-cam and pivoted on the shaft between the said face-cam I and the slidable barrel and operating to place the clutch-members in. engagement with each other.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

; HERMAN E. KUHNER.

Witnesses J. H. LEWIS, FRANKLIN CLARKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Pat ents,

Washington, D. C." 

